North Carolina Lawmakers Scope Out High Point Mark
High Point, NC, Oct. 21--State legislators strolled through High Point's three largest showrooms Friday with the expression of curious tourists, many of them totally unfamiliar with the inner workings of the International Home Furnishings Market according to the High Point Enterprise.
Lawmakers are visiting the Triad this weekend to see firsthand how $900,000 appropriated for transportation has made a difference in market operations.
For many, the tour Friday was their first-ever glimpse of High Point during the semiannual furniture market. State Sen. Kay Hagan, D-Guilford, said it was an eye-opening experience for everyone.
There were slightly fewer legislators than expected, but a nearly full bus passed through major points downtown before embarking on a two-hour walking tour.
Judy Mendenhall, president of the International Home Furnishings Market Authority, led the tour along with Charlotte Young and Ron Stephens of the city's Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Mendenhall said she wanted lawmakers to realize the market's vitality and the importance of offering services such as free shuttle service to buyers.
"I need you to understand that people are thrilled to have this service," Mendenhall said.
The second day into market, hotel ridership increased by 70 percent, she said. The authority offers free shuttle rides from hotels and from Piedmont Triad International Airport.
Mendenhall noted a misconception that fewer people are attending the market because they aren't visible on the streets. In actuality, more people are riding the buses, and they now have more showroom space to visit.
"The object is to keep cars out of High Point," she said. "We want this to be a car-less market. We can do that with great ground transportation. We need to keep the buyers happy, because if they leave, the exhibitors will leave also." The N.C. General Assembly recently earmarked $900,000 for the market authority. The money will go toward transportation and parking.
On Monday, Mendenhall and other authority staff will host N.C. Department of Transportation board members to showcase market transportation. The DOT will be making decisions on future market funding.
The authority also is anticipating $3 million in federal transportation funding, which so far has the support of state congressional leaders.
Mendenhall said federal funds will be used to upgrade the transportation terminal across from the International Home Furnishings Center. The authority wants to buy additional property and create bus lanes.
With buyers rushing in and out of the IHFC building, a bus terminal would be safer and more convenient, Mendenhall said.
"Our 3,000 exhibitors take up a lot of room," she said. "This is not an easy market to work. The average buyer stays three days – that's a short time for 11 million square feet of showroom space."
Lawmakers began their foot tour inside the IHFC. On the 12th-floor Hamilton wing, Mendenhall's group browsed the Kincaid Furniture showroom.
Next, they moved to the Suites at Market Square, where they got a taste of a renovated factory converted into a showroom. As they navigated through the bustling afternoon crowd, some said they had no idea how much activity the market brings.
"I never knew there was this much energy," said Sen. Harris Blake, R-Pinehurst, who represents the 22nd District of Harnett, Lee and Moore counties. "I'm overwhelmed. This really is first-class. The state has to be aware of this. The dynamics of the pace feels like Manhattan." Blake, who was visiting the market for the first time, said the surrounding communities might not fully realize the economic benefit.
"Other towns can tap into this," he said.
Another first-time market visitor, Rep. Franklin Mitchell of Iredell County, said the General Assembly's spending has proved to be an advantage for the market.
